Surgeon donates kidney to colleague

February 03, 2017

IN THE NEWS: When Dr. Colleen Coleman heard that Dr. Brian Dunn, an anesthesiologist with whom she shares an operating room at Hoag Hospital twice a month, was in need of a kidney transplant, she looked for a way to help.

CBS2 news interviewed the two at UC Irvine Medical Center, where the successful transplant surgery took place Monday.

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After finding she was a match with her colleague, Coleman traded her scrubs for a patient gown and donated her organ.

She said it was just part of the job.

“I truly believe if I as a surgeon and physician couldn’t do this, after having participated in transplantation as part of my training and experience as a surgeon, how could I ask other people to give themselves,” Coleman said.

The transplant surgery at UC Irvine Medical Center was a success, and daily kidney dialysis is now just a memory for Dunn.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that someone would make that sacrifice,” Dunn said. “It’s just amazing to me that someone would give something with no direct benefit, but that’s Colleen.”